Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 85135 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85135 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
“It takes a lot to do a good casual look,” the guy who’s doing her makeup says.
I squint, trying to make what he’s said make sense. “You look great in a cap and some leggings.”
Vivian laughs. “This is what it takes to move from coffee run to casual supper.” Her phone rings and she picks up, holding the phone ahead of her so I know it’s a video call.
“Hey Felicity.” She glances at me as if we both know Felicity calling again is annoying, except I have no real idea what’s going on. Maybe Felicity needs to call her.
“Darling, you look completely gorgeous. Is Beau there yet?”
“Yes, and he brought me beautiful flowers. You want to see?” Vivian turns in her chair and the makeup and hair people step back so they don’t block Vivian’s view. The move is so seamless, it could be choreographed.
Betty holds up the vase, and Felicity says, “Lovely, darling. Can you ask Beau if he wouldn’t mind signing the e-doc I sent through to him? It’s just the NDA. The rest of it we can talk through tomorrow, but we need that NDA signed.”
Vivian practically curdles at the request. She’s clearly feeling awkward, but I can’t tell if it’s because I’ve not signed the NDA yet or she doesn’t want to talk to me about anything like that. Awkward is the last thing I want her to feel.
“No problem.” I pull out my phone and see the link in my inbox. I pull up the contract and scroll through. I skim the thing and press all the right buttons to make sure I’ve signed it. “Done,” I say.
Vivian’s smile is back. “He’s done it,” she says to Felicity. She mouths thank you to me.
“Okay everyone, we’re going to have to make a move now. Let’s finish up.”
It’s like everyone steps away at once when Vivian slides off her chair. I’m not sure they would have ever finished if she didn’t start her exit.
She takes off her pink satin robe—exactly the same color as the roses in the bouquet I just bought her—and picks up her bag.
“Wow,” I say as she comes toward me and I bend to kiss her on the cheek. “You look incredible.”
She’s wearing a pink top the same color as the robe and it’s got big sleeves, though it seems to have a corset-type thing that shows off her breasts in a way I almost can’t look away from. Gradually my gaze travels down to her jeans, and I try not to look as blown away as I feel. She really is gorgeous.
“Thanks. So do you. But then you always do.”
I smile at her in a way that I hope says, That was a super-nice thing to say. It feels really genuine and I really like you.
“Are you ready?” I ask.
“As I’ll ever be.”
I scoop up her hand and lead her out of the hotel room, leaving the entourage of people behind us. “Let’s forget about everything and just have a nice dinner and good conversation.”
She wrinkles up her nose like she’s trying not to smile. “I think most of that’s almost guaranteed.” And then she looks at me in a way that I think says, I really like you too.
And to think Tommy wanted to pay me.
FOURTEEN
Vivian
The waitress leaves us with our menus and at the same time, Beau and I both say, “How are you?”
We grin at each other. He always seems so relaxed. So happy.
“Are you okay?” he asks again, his blue eyes sparkling at me in the most mischievous way.
“Yes, but I’m used to this kind of thing,” I say. There were just two cameras taking shots as we got out of the car and went into the restaurant. They shouted questions at us, but I didn’t reply and it was just seconds before we were through the restaurant door.
“But it’s not my name they’re calling. It’s not me they want a picture of.”
I laugh. “It absolutely is. Granted, they may want that picture to be with me, but they got their wish. You’re going to be named tomorrow. They’re going to know who you are, what you do for a living. It won’t be long before they know where you live.” I still don’t feel completely comfortable with Beau doing this when he can’t possibly know what he’s gotten himself into. But it’s too late now.
“It will be fine,” he says, like it’s no big deal.
But it is a big deal. Matt used to complain about it all the time. Was all that just an act? Given he was leaking details about me and our relationship, maybe he didn’t have such a hard time dealing with the scrutiny.
“Do you normally have a private room when you go out to dinner like this?” he asks.
I pause, digesting what he’s asked. “You mean, for just two people?” I’ve done private dining for a group of people, but it’s never occurred to me to get a private room for just two people. “I don’t think so.”